Oh heck - last post 1 April - I've been sooooooo busy with F1 and other things and have completely neglected my blog and so much has happened. I can't possibly try to catch up, so I won't! Suffice to say that yet again I am having that sinking feeling at the beginning of the season that Fernando is not going to get WDC again this year - I don't know what to think anymore - he IS a fantastic driver - it's so unfair that he's having to drive an uncompetitive car - and yet, look what he is getting out of it! What the heck are those Ferrari boys doing?? Am I to suppose that the Ferrari is even more uncompetitive than the Renault - and for goodness sake - Red Bull Racing - what is going on there? No double decker deffusers, no KERS - and they steal the show like that?! Had it just been Seb, I would have belived - but Webbo too??? Now, there's something fishy going on there - awwww, poor DC - had you only stayed one more season?!

Anyway, must be off - always comes on here too late - have to be up for work (and a compliance visit) is less than a few hours!

Cheers all!

April Fool

Ah, April Fool's day - I had an idea last night to post a "newsflash" in a forum I use regularly that Lewis Hamilton was moving to Brawn GP with immediate effect. Wrote the post and put it up, together with some links which would take the reader to a couple of pics saying "gotcha" and "April Fools Day". I posted it in the forum at approx 12.15 am. Then went to bed.

Imagine my surprise today when I see the same story on a website called F1 Live - it was expanded a bit, but essentially my post - and they posted it at 9.17 am!! I feel a bit miffed - either they saw my post and pinched my idea (without so much as a by your leave or acknowledgement) - or the story is so obvious that anyone involved in F1 could have thought of it :( Oh well, my friends in my forum loved my joke - although only one (very naieve) girl fell for it! :)

Incidentially, when I wrote the first paragraph of this post, I accidentally wrote "Lewis Button" lol

I really hope those diffusers don't get banned - although at the same time, I wouldn't want the season to be turn too boring if Brawn run away with it ........

On the Button!

Well, what a weekend, what a Grand Prix, what a lot of moaning whingers ...... I'm pleased that Brawn has knocked Macca and Ferrari off their dominant spot (well, so far anyway) - also good to see Williams and Toyota with improved cars and chances - it really puts the cat amongst the pigeons, eh? Not so pleased to see that Renault are still allowing Fernando to ride around in a wheelbarrow - this is not the way to treat the best driver on the grid! However, I have faith. I have faith that he will do his magic, improve the car and win the WDC!

Lucky old Hammy eh? Hopefully the luck will not hold out in Sepang ........ :( (mutter, mutter, spikes in his eyes .......)

In my "real" life, work is very busy (end of the financial year - why oh why do people leave it until three days before the end of the tax year to think about using their ISA allowance?? - idiots with more money than sense - still it keeps me in a job!).

Home life is about to get hectic as the annual onslaught of visitors begin -"hmm, what shall we do that's cheap at Easter - yes, let's go and stay for free in Devon" - we never seem to get invited back to stay - are they 'friends' or just using us?? Oh well. Daughter also coming home from Uni with new boyfriend in tow for us to suss out (pics make him look very geeky - I do hope he's got a sense of humour otherwise he will suffer!)

Buff is suffering from those pmt blues again (honestly, he has more periods than me!) Will nothing ever make him happy?? Am I wasting my time and life?

Over and out for now

Didn't I Say ........

...... that Jenson would come good! Yay for Jenson - let's just hope he can turn his pole position into winning the GP tomorrow - although I would actually prefer Fernando to win - but it looks as though the R29 is not much better than the R28 - but who knows!


I was up at 5 am to watch the qualifiers - I was so excited - how could people stay in bed and not be interested?!? Who cares that I will lose an hour's sleep tonight and still be up for 6 am - 2009 has finally started for me!



Now just look at this gorgeous picture of this gorgeous man ...........

The Year Starts Here!

At long last the day has finally arrived ....... the official start of the 2009 F1 season! And what a wonderful start it was (for me, anyway!). I was able to get up early and watch coverage of the practice sessions by way of the BBC's Red Button facility! So much better than just spending the day surfing the net reading many similar reports about the action, but not being able to see for youself......... I just can't wait for tomorrow morning and the qualifiers - will Hami really be as poor as he is currently appearing? (hope so!); will Williams, Toyota and Brawn be able to keep up their promising starts? (hope so!) - but most importantly of all, will Fernando come good - cos I have to say at the moment, I am feeling ever so slightly uneasy about my boy! So come on my lovely, get those gloves on and show em what you're made of!

Nora Batty eat your heart out!

Oh the embarrassment! Today I am wearing a skirt suit and as usual, rather than wearing tights (which I hate!) I am wearing "hold ups" - the modern day equivalent of stockings ;) ........ but the "stick" must have worn away on the right leg, because everytime I walk anywhere it falls down!! and I mean, I only have to take three steps and it's around my ankle! The shame - however shall I get to the car park when I leave the office ?.........

Anyone for an Annuity?

Well I'm glad to tell you the cough/cold/general feeling of illness has gone away (thank goodness for over the counter drugs!) and I had a great weekend! Lots of sunshine, spring cleaning and sowing of seeds - peppers, tomatoes, sweetpeas, marigolds etc etc - hurray for nature!

Talking of neighbours (as I was in the last blog), the old neighbours came to visit tonight - we had a high old time complaining about the new ones! But the upside is the that the old neighbours are now living in a rural position with lots of chickens, so I cannot wait to go visit!

I was at a seminar today; the last presentation - pensions/annuities - must have been boring because at the end my colleague leant over to me and said "what's all that then?" pointing at my notes - which comprised MAS, RAI (FER), HAM, KOV (MCL), ALO, PIQ (REN) etc etc etc - I had only listed all the teams and all the drivers for the 2009 F1 season - without even thinking about it! Obsessed or what? At the seminar, one of the annuity companies is offering free tickets and accommodation to the Monaco Grand Prix for the lucky person requesting an illustration from them during April who's name is drawn from a hat - guess who will, by chance, have a million clients this month who need annuity illustrations ................

Neighbours

Well I was mightly pissed off this morning when I went out to my car to find the driver wing mirror hanging off! I tell you, where I park, in our DEAD END lane, which only the neighbours use to get to their houses - there is stacks of room to get past my car - so how the hell did this happen??? Mmmmm, well, put it this way - all the other neighbours have lived there a long time and this has never happened before - but, the new neighbour - who moved in last week - has a sod off, huge 4 x 4 pick up truck - not that I'm pointing the finger or anything, but it seems a bit of a coincidence ...............what with this and the constant banging at nights (and no, I don't mean in the bedroom department!) I am quite quickly going off this new neighbour ........

Thank goodness it's nearly the weekend - been struggling with a snotty cold all week which is making its crescendo today - would love to go home and just collapse in a heap, but instead I will partaking of all things magic tonight, so have been to Boots to stock up on drugs - let's hope that day nurse is effective, combined with the Buttercup syrup, the Jakemans Honey & Lemon soothers and the Berocca (which my sister swears by!)

Only one week now until the beginning of the most important weekend of the season - yay hay hay - roll on the Melbourne GP and all who sail in her!

Over and out good buddies

Opposites attract!

We have new neighbours, which is nice, because the next door house has stood empty for over a year.........however, it is now 9 o clock at night and it sounds like a timber yard is next door, what with all the banging and hammering that's going on ......... they'd better quit soon otherwise I might change my mind about the 'niceness' of new neighbours!

So the new 'wins' rule has been accepted in F1 - the driver to win the most races, wins the championship - ha ha - that will put the fox amongst the pigeons - come on Fernando, you can do it! (or Kimi or Felipe or Kubica or Button or anybody other than Spewis!)

Buff has booked us tickets to a 'Magic Evening' this Friday - magicians and mentalists -wooooo, hooooo - 'be prepared to mystifyed and magicked' ....... Give me sport any day. You know, it's all around the wrong way in our relationship - he's the one that's all artsy-fartsy and me, I'm the hard drinking, sports lovin' one - oh well, they say opposites attract!

Ace - Not

Ace has disappeared. Hopefully she has been found by her rightful owners .... or maybe she found a new home - whichever way, I hope she is happy!

I'm feeling yuck today. I blame Buff - he had a cold over the weekend - think I am coming down with it.

Lovely, sunny weather - makes you feel glad to be alive (even if your eyes are streaming and you can't stop coughing!). Only a few days until the beginning of official Spring and then of course, only a few days until the first GP of the season - I soooooo hope that Macca is as bad as they are making out - lol!

Diet Starts Monday .......

....... but today I baked coffee and walnut cake. Well, I tell you, I am not a baking-cake kinda girl, so Buff almost had a heart attack when he came in the kitchen and saw this! I just had an urge. I blame the sunshine.

I have visitors coming in three weeks time - I wonder if I will have the urge again? Hope so.

In the meantime, excitement is building about the start of the F1 season - only two weeks to go now!!!!!! Arghhhhhhhhh - I can't wait. I went in the bookies today - (I'm not usually a going-into-bookies kinda girl either - I wonder what is happening to me) - with a view to putting a bet on the first GP of the season, but they didn't have any odds, so I may investigate internet betting - oh dear, will it be the first slip down the slippering slope of gambling addiction? Nah, I'm a tight old skinflint normally - but will have a flutter on Fernando (he makes me flutter - lol)!

Now, for that cake ........ mmmmmmmmm :)

Advocaaaaaaa

Last night I drank Advocaat and ate onion bhajis. At the same time. I was extremely sick :(

Ace

Well, the little black cat (whom I've since named "Ace") came in the house for a few hours last night. As suspected, MF and Fatty were none too pleased; lots of raised hackles and hissing and spitting (honestly - you'd think they'd be a bit more accommodating, after all, as I pointed out to them, they were strays once .......). Ace just sat beside me on the settee for a couple of hours, purring quietly and every now and then rolling over for a tummy tickle. But later she wanted to go out (I thought to go pee) and didn't come back for a while. So we went off to bed (MF and Fatty whooping and hollering with joy that she'd gone). In the middle of the night I woke to hear "meow, meow, meow" so pitifully outside the window, but didn't dare let her in again. Gave her some breakfast this morning and the neighbour came out - a friend of his has offered to take her in. Mmmmmm, not sure how I feel about that because I know in my heart of hearts that Buff doesn't really want another cat, but I feel like I've made a special connection with Ace and I would miss her (lol - I've only known her 3 days!) Silly old fool I am.

Well, I guess we will have to see whether she's around tonight .......

By the way, if you like kitties, visit here:-

http://www.thedailykitten.com/

Soooooooo cute!

I've Been Adopted (Almost!)

Little black cat turned up on my doorstep two nights ago - has been meowing pitifully ever since - I've reported her to the CPL and the local vets and asked around but nobody seems to have reported her lost - I'm all for letting her live with us but Monkey Face and Fatty (my other two cats) and Buff don't seem so keen......we'll see :)

Barcelona Calling

It's not fair! Buff's car broke down today so he got the day off work!

Anyway, just 18 days to go until the Australian GP - interesting to see the testing times today in Barcelona - Quick Nick in the BMW coming in first, just pipping Kimi who is hopefully on the wagon for the season. Jenson's looking good in the new Brawn-Mercedes - I really hope he does get a good season; Heikki's McLaren was running last - ha ha - actually I do like Heikki as a driver, just detest anything to do with McLaren - as for Hammy, pity he didn't break his leg in the smash the other day .................. ooooo, put your claws away missus!

It's only Tuesday ...... so long until the weekend - mind you my next few weeks are looking pretty busy, so time will surely fly by and before I know it will be June and Silverstone - yay! But, hey, mustn't wish my life away as my old nan used to say.

Well done to Chris Moyles and the team for getting to the top of Mt Killymangiro (yes, I know that's not how it's spelt, but I like it) and raising all that money for comic relief - never thought he would do it, just shows his strength of character (yes, he's a subborn git - lol).

Well, better get on with my work now - lunch time can't last all day (I wish) ....

chow

Alien Insurance

I had a dream last night that my house insurance company sent me an invitation to renew my house insurance by way of a small alien spaceship which hovered outside my bedroom window until I let it in ........ don't know what happened after that though - It's so frustrating to have these kind of dreams - it's like watching a tv pilot and never know whether you're going to see the whole series or whether that was just it, no more, nada, rien ............... I'd have been quite interested to have that dream continue ..... any suggestions for an ending most appreciated!

Monkey Face

One of my cats, who you will know as "Monkey Face" has this really strange, but endearing habit, of carrying things around the house and meowing very, very loudly. The things she carries around are not random - they are always the same - a plastic bag containing pipe cleaners, a handkerchief used by buff for doing magic tricks, and my mobile phone case. Often she will "group" them together - I wonder if she thinks they are her kittens? It's so funny to see. Here is Monkey Face:-

And here are her "kittens"

Prawn Racing

I can't help it, but every time the old Honda team is mentioned (Brawn Racing) I get this pink image in my mind ......................

I'm given to understand that Jenson (on the left) enjoys a "cocktail" or too.

And the new boss, Ross Prawn:-

Champion Wii'er

Well, I half made the not getting too drunk bit - I remained fairly sober actually, but staying up until 5 am in the morning, chewing the fat, does nothing for your complexion - never mind your energy levels! I have to announce, however, I was the champion wii'er (is this a new word I have just invented?) - mind you I was the youngest by about 20 years - lol.

Is having a jacket potato and beans for breakfast bad? Just seemed more appetising than cornflakes this morning - anyway, I guess I can call it lunch as it has now gone 12.

Today I really, really must do something constructive, and not just waste the time away on the pc - mind you, that Bloxorz thing is so addictive - I wonder how many stages there are? I feel an urge to complete them all ..............

Home alone

Well, home alone for the weekend as buff as gone to visit some friends 200 miles away - football, curry, beer etc - and I'm free to do whatever ...... actually, have just arranged to go to a Wii party tonight, which should be fun - must try not to drink too much though - I start off so well, then all promises seem to disappear out of the window and the next day I think, yuck, why do I feel so grim :(

The snow's gone, sunny day - roll on Spring. Because it's such a lovely day, I feel I should be 'constructive' -spring clean etc - but actually, because I'm on my own, it gives me the chance to blog and spend my time on F1 sites which usually buff gets fed up with - he's always competing with Fernando for my time - ha ha!

Only three weeks to go now until the first race in Melbourne - I'm so excited! I really really hope it's an exciting season, with a closely fought championship - but that Fernando wins and Hamilton loses - ha ha ha!

Jenson Button

Woo hoo - I'm so pleased that Honda will be racing this season - albeit in the guise of Brawn GP - so pleased that Jenson will be on the grid again - only 3 weeks to go until the start of the season - I'm getting rrrrreeeeaaaaallllllyyyyyy excited now!

Snow

Well, have finally got my internet to work again for a few minutes - previous blog was written a couple of days ago but only just published due to internet connection failure - I HATE technology!! Just like a car, I know how to drive it, but I don't know how to fix it when it breaks - it makes me so mad that I am not just a genius at everything!

Anyway, the news today is that I'm snowed in again - about 6 inches of snow fell during the night - other half left about 30 mins ago to try to get to work, but has rung to say he is stuck in a long line of traffic all stuck in snow trying to get out of the village, so I guess I won't be trying it any time soon as I have a 25 mile drive to work - a day of housework for me instead? or maybe Guitar Hero - yes, that's right, Guitar Hero - we recently got suckered into this craze (yes, a bit late I know!) but now are addicted. I'm slightly embarrassed that the next door neighbours had to knock on our door last night and ask us to quieten down a bit tho - I feel a bit like an irresponsible teenage - of course, we turned it off straight away ........... next time we had better not have the amp so loud!

This weekend I will be on my own as the other half is going to the other side of the country for a birthday bash with one of his old school mates (football, a curry and a nightclub - not my idea of fun with people I hardly know, so I'm giving it a miss!). So I'm looking forward to a whole weekend to myself - whatever shall I do? Shall I clean the house? write articles? play Guitar Hero (with the amp turned down!)? go out on the tiles with my girlie friends? visit my parents? pamper myself? so many options!

Anyway, for now, I had better go and do something more constructive than sitting here blogging

Yours in Snow

Grr - The Internet!

Grrr - the internet - like men - can't live with it, can't live without it! Just when I have got to do loads of important things online (like banking) it decides to give up the ghost - so I spend a long time trying to get it working again, finally give up, blow my top, lay on floor and beat my heals like a child, hisnibs comes along, sits down at his pc and connects straight away - is it cos I's blonde?!?

Last night met up with an old friend who I hadn't seen for the past 10 years (we met up again via Facebook - wonderful tool!) and made plans to go to Silverstone in June - arggghhhhh - I'm just sooooooo excited about that! I dream every night of meeting Fernando Alonso .............

I'm also going to a Take That concert in July - my plans for 2009 are coming along quite nicely!

And the good new is .......

B/f (buff) says yes to the holiday with my Ma & Pa - hurray! I know he will enjoy it when we get there (he gets on very well with them - I think he's more concerned about two weeks away and getting bored - he's a very 'doing' kind of guy, rather than a lying on the beach kind of guy - so I shall have to keep him busy with visits to historic places and boat trips and scuba diving etc). I am really looking forward to quality time with my parents - after all, you never know how long they will be around (Ma has already suffered - and recovered from - cancer). The place we are going to is called Paradise Hotel and it really is - I have never stayed there (there are only 4 rooms, and very personal service!) but I have eaten there many times and always vowed to stay there - it really is like Paradise.

In the meantime, today was well spent with my lovely sister and her husband and daughter - my sister and I haven't always had the best of relationships, so it's really nice that we're getting along and enjoying each other's company - funnily enough it was Facebook that brought us back together - and today Guitar Hero cemented it - lol!

Yours, with a smile!

Holiday in Turkey

Ma & Pa want us to go to Turkey with them for a holiday in September (I know the place in Turkey and it is really beautiful) - and at a really reasonable rate too .... I've proposed this to the other half and now waiting on his decision - I would LOVE to go, but I guess if he asked me to go on holiday with his parents for a fortnight, I'd have reservations, so I guess I must just act reasonably with whatever decision he makes.

Today has been so beautiful and sunny - almost like spring, yet of course, we're still officially in winter ... but the bulbs are coming up and the lambs are frolicking in the fields - talking of which, I bought a shoulder of lamb for Sunday roast tomorrow - lol - but yum yum!

Anyway, off to watch the rugby now (another one of my passions!) Hopefully England will win!
Adios

Lazy Saturday Morning

Oh it's heaven - Saturday morning (in fact, day) all to myself, as hisnibs is working today - so far I have done absolutely nothing apart from mooch around the house, nibbling here, picking up there - couple of phone conversations - and later on, getting my hair done - Oh Joy! Don't you just hate roots!

I was quite pleased with myself yesterday - a charitable day - I gave to Comic Relief and also a jazz playing busker in the High street, who was incredibly talented - but such a sad face - you could tell he had seen a few smokey jazz clubs in his time ....... also a very good friend, but troubled friend, came over for supper in the evening and spent the time regaling me with his woes - my heart goes out to him, nothing I can do for him except listen - made me appreciate my life and loved ones more!

Did I say that I'm a bit of an F1 freak? Well, getting so excited because as of this weekend, only a month to go until the first GP of the season in Melbourne - which also makes me feel sad as I think about the bush fires over there.

Oooh that left over chilli I ate for breakfast is really lying heavily on my stomach - time to get up and dance with the vacuum cleaner methinks ......

(Oh, and Arctic Ninjas are just silly men dressed as soldiers having snowball fights and chasing polar bears - goodness me though, it's a great read - has had me laughing out loud while snuggled down in bed of an evening - much to buff's amusement!)

How to be an Arctic Ninja

I'll admit up front, this blog has nothing to do with the Arctic, nor indeed, Ninjas - but I have just started Richard Hammond's new book "As You Do" and this is the title of the first chapter, and it just captured my imagination - what could an Arctic Ninja be? My imagination is running a little wild - I see green turtles with black headbands, running around in the snow and building igloos - coupled with that is an image of a big, fat, ginger puss cat (because I had a big, fat ginger puss cat once - called Ninja - ginger/Ninja - geddit!? Oh never mind....... ) So there it is When I've read the chapter (and if I remember) I'll report back as to what Arctic Ninjas really are .....

Till then - the answer to last blog's joke - A STICK - ta da!

The other half saw me logging into this tonight and asked if he could read it - I told a teeny, weeny, little white lie - I said I wasn't blogging about us/him, just events in general - so now he thinks it would be interesting to read - sigh - I guess I'll have to set about writing an alternative blog, just to show him! That'll teach me to lie! I actually found this Blogger thing through my daughter - amazingly she writes all her innermost thoughts and secrets in it - then advertises the address on Facebook! And she wonders how I know what she's up to at University - probably thinks Mum is too dumb to use the internet - ha ha - little does she know!

I've just noticed that the saving feature does not seem to be working; it's going to be very infuriating to get to the end of this and then find I can't save the blimming thing! I'm not the best techno geek in the world (being blonde and female!), but what I think I may do, is just copy and paste this elsewhere - ha ha - no getting past me today!

So, anyway, today being the first day of lent, I'm giving up bread। Someone asked whether that included 'wraps' - I said that would depend on the sell-by date। What I forgot to say to her was that I have a packet of wraps in the cupboard (I checked - it's June, so we're safe). I thought it was funny anyway. She just gave me an odd look. Mind you, I think she thought I was odd for giving something up for lent anyway - youth of today just have no idea about the bible do they? Apparently their lack of bible knowledge is making it much more difficult to teach them the classics at Uni. Can you imagine - turning up for English Literature classes, not having any idea of the content of one of the most famous books on earth - whatever next - starting a degree in quantum physics and not knowing what Pi is? (Actually, I have no idea whether you need a knowledge of Pi to study quantum physics, but it sounds good!)That's it for now - this non-saving facility is really beginning to bug me, so I'll sign off here - this blog may never yet see the light of day!
Ciao
(written on Ash Wednesday but for technological reasons, not posted til today!)

India

What a day to start blogging ... my interest in India has been growing steadily over the past year and I'm now resolved to go there for a visit next year - today (or was it last night?) Slumdog Millionaire won a trillion Oscars - and so it should. I'm so happy and pleased because my friends in Mumbai are so happy and pleased (although privately I wonder at the fact that they are glorying in being, in the main, a city of slums).

I'm actually only writing this because I've just had a 'falling out' with the other half and I want somone to talk to. Actually, I feel a bit silly about it - I'm not saying it was my fault, you know, but I will already admit that at least 50% of the blame is mine. But of course, as usual, we will be silent and distant for a few hours - such a waste of what is, relatively, such short time we have left together (well, if we're lucky we might get another 40 years, but as my past relationships have had an average lifespan of 4 years and 3 months, I doubt I'm going to make the ruby anniversary mark!)

So instead, I'm sitting at the computer tapping away and listening to morose songs, and he's sitting in front of the tv watching programmes he's really not that interested in (he hates Monday night tv!)

Why do we do this? With me it's all about insecurity. I pretend not to, but I do get jealous - because I am always sure he is going to finish the relationship. Which is bizarre, because in the past, it's been me, 99% of the time, that has finished the relationship. There was only one time I was 'dumped' and even then, I think I led him to it. Men always say they will never understand how a woman's mind works; I'm not surprised, I don't even know what's going on in my own mind most of the time. I want, I crave, I positively yearn for a long-lasting loving relationship (my own parents have been married 44 years). Two tries later (and several relationships) I find I am unable to last beyond the afore-mentioned 4 years or so.

Anyway, enough. This is sounding like a right feeling sorry for myself column, when really I'm here to be witty, a comedian, a right barrel of laughs - nobody will want to 'follow me' at this rate! Ha. Maybe a joke or two, erm - what's brown and sticky ...........punchline to follow in my next blog. Bye me hearties - better go and tickle some toes and get us smiling again :)